Tenaska, an independent US power producer, has signed a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. that will result in competitively priced renewable energy prices for members. The PPA has a capacity of approximately 236 megawatts (MW) of renewable power from a wind project in northwest Missouri.

“This agreement secures long-term, fixed and competitively priced renewable energy for our members, serving as a buffer against projected increases in fuel prices,” said David J. Tudor, Associated’s CEO and general manager. “With our experience managing significant amounts of wind power on our system, Clear Creek is a good fit for our power supply portfolio.”

Tenaska, based in Omaha, Nebraska, has successfully developed approximately 10,000 MW of natural gas-fueled and renewable power projects. The company has mid- to advanced-stage wind development projects in the Midwest and is considering opportunities across the United States.

Associated Electric, an electric generation and transmission cooperative based in Springfield, provides wholesale power to six regional cooperatives, including NW Electric Power Cooperative Inc. of Cameron, Missouri, and 51 local cooperative systems in Missouri, southeast Iowa and northeast Oklahoma that serve 910,000 members. Associated’s diverse resource mix includes coal, natural gas, wind and hydropower.

The Tenaska Clear Creek project, which will utilize Associated’s strong transmission interconnections, will be comprised of 100 to 120 wind turbines able to produce 2 to 3 megawatts each. Vestas is currently anticipated to supply the wind turbines and provide maintenance services for the project. Construction is expected to begin in 2019.